The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

LLS exists to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. We are the voice for all blood cancer patients and we work to ensure access to treatments for all blood cancer patients.

At A Glance

Year of Incorporation1949

Former Names

Leukemia Society of America

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Connecticut Chapter

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, CT. Chapter

Organization's type of tax exempt statusPublic Supported Charity

Leadership

CEO/Executive DirectorMr. Dennis Chillemi

Board ChairMrs. Ann Bryan

Board Chair Company AffiliationNone

Financial Summary

Projected Revenue$4,855,000.00

Projected Expenses$2,817,219.00

Statements

Mission

The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

LLS exists to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. We are the voice for all blood cancer patients and we work to ensure access to treatments for all blood cancer patients.

BackgroundThe Leukemia & Lymphoma Society began in 1949 as the Devillier's Society in memory of one family's loss of their teenage son. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS), headquartered in White Plains, NY, with chapters across the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested over $1 billion in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Impact

LLS is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Newly diagnosed patients are under enormous amounts of emotional and financial stress. Many blood cancer patients are unable to work during their treatment and this financial hardship, partnered with the rising cost of healthcare, informs the need for LLS' Co-Pay Assistance Program. The Co-Pay Assistance Program is often how a patient first hears about LLS.

Patients also often feel they don’t have a support network that knows what they are going through; therefore, LLS’ programs like First Connection and patient support groups are extremely important.

There is also a need for LLS’ Welcome Back programs to help facilitate reentry back into schools, as school staff often don’t know how to explain to other school children what a leukemia patient has gone through.

CEO Statement

LLS is the leader in support and educational programs in the area of blood cancers. The First Connection program is unique to LLS and is often the program that patients state they appreciate the most. The opportunity to have a casual conversation with someone who has gone through exactly what the patient is going through is critical.

Board Chair Statement

In the current economic climate, the challenge that exists for the Connecticut Westchester Hudson Valley Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is our ability to continue raising funds that are used both to serve patients in our community and to support research that is critical to prolonging lives and ultimately to finding a cure for blood cancers. We have addressed this challenge by targeting our events toward various segments of the public using both a geographic focus and a demographic focus. We have also charged our Board of Trustees with recruiting more volunteers to participate at our events and to help raise awareness of the importance of our mission. We have also made great progress in attracting Trustees to our Board that meet the demographic and geographic diversity of our constituents in the Connecticut and Westchester/Hudson Valley Region, NY. Our Board members, our volunteers and our staff, many of whom are blood cancer survivors, are energetic in working toward beating this disease and devote numerous hours organizing and attending events and meeting with families and those whose lives have been changed by the diagnosis of a blood cancer. Its what drives many of us to work tirelessly to raise funds in the race to find a cure.

First Connection is a program that links newly diagnosed patients to a peer volunteer who has experienced a similar diagnosis. The CT Chapter seeks funding for local training of peer volunteers. LLS would like to expand its volunteers to include underserved populations in the communities.

Through First Connection Program, and other programs I help with I always encourage everyone, patients, family members, and even caregivers to go to these support group meetings. These meeting are a large pot of information. They are also a great way for family members to talk to other families. I have gotten great feedback about that. When I attend the group meetings, I take information from L.L.S with me, when I leave I take questions back to find answers. As it is they are not an US and THEM programs, but WE as one. That is why these programs are so very important. I would not be where I am today if not for these programs. They all help people have a better life.

Our Patient Services Managers review each support group with our volunteer facilitators to make sure the groups are a benefit to each person attending and patients and families are getting the resources they need.

I will be forever grateful for having 2 ongoing support groups to attend while I continue my fight against this disease. I continue to attend them in an attempt to give back and assist others as they begin their journeys. They give me a purpose and inspire me to continue to hang in there in the fight to cure this and other cancers in our lifetime.Most sincerely,Ginny B

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) sponsors a range of free telephone and web education programs, and local education programs of interest to patients and caregivers.

LLS also sponsors conferences and meetings each year for physicians, nurses, social workers, researchers and other healthcare professionals. Live and past versions of these events are provided free to the public as ongoing informational resources.

This profile, including the financial summaries prepared and submitted by the organization based on its own independent and/or internal audit processes and regulatory submissions, has been read by the Foundation. Financial information is inputted by Foundation staff directly from the organization’s IRS Form 990, audited financial statements or other financial documents approved by the nonprofit’s board. The Foundation has not audited the organization’s financial statements or tax filings, and makes no representations or warranties thereon. The Community Foundation is continuing to receive information submitted by the organization and may periodically update the organization’s profile to reflect the most current financial and other information available. The organization has completed the fields required by The Community Foundation and updated their profile in the last year. To see if the organization has received a competitive grant from The Community Foundation in the last five years, please go to the General Information Tab of the profile.

Related Information

A healthy community is a rich community. When we enjoy good health, when we engage in wellness activities – and when we support people living with disease or disabilities -- there are profound physical and psychological benefits. Simply put, we are all stronger and happier. To support the health and wellness initiatives in your community is to put good health within reach of all.